NEVERMOREBy Fi McGarry

2020

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CAST:KEVIN - a very ordinary man. He is wearing baggy jeans and a tea-shirt, along with a pair of slip-pers.

LENORA - similarly ordinary. She is quite a small, bird-like woman. Her clothes are dull, but not dark.

SCENE:Inside the kitchen of their home. It is a cosy farmhouse-style kitchen with lots of clutter. There is a window looking out over the garden, and two doors- one leads to the vestibule and the back door, the other lead to the rest of the house. There is an old-fashioned clock over a fireplace, and a tv with two armchairs, as well as the usual kitchen furniture.

(Quotes in italics from St Kevin and the Blackbird by Seamus Heaney)

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SCENE 1. DAY. KEVIN IS PLAYING THE FLUTE. HE PLAYS HESITANTLY. HE IS SITTING IN THE KITCHEN, WITH SOME MUSIC ON THE TABLE. THERE IS A WINDOW IN THE ROOM, AND A VESTIBULE OFF, LEADING TO THE BACK DOOR.

LENORA ENTERS FROM THE VESTIBULE CARRYING A SMALL CAMERA

LENORAIt’s funny, that.

KEVIN PUTS THE FLUTE DOWN IN HIS LAP

KEVINWhat’s funny?

LENORAIt’s that crow. Well, a crow or a blackbird. I can’t tell the difference. Is there a difference?

KEVIN I don’t know. They all look the same to me, them birds. Them black birds. Some of them are ravens.

LENORAHarbingers

KEVINWhat?

LENORAHarbingers of doom, ravens. That’s what we always used to say, anyway.

KEVINAnyway, what are you on about? You said it was funny.

LENORASorry, I never meant to interrupt you, you were getting on good there - that was good, that was.

KEVINWell, mebbe not good, but getting better. It’s hard though. Hard work. And my fingers get sore after a while

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LENORAStill, getting better.

KEVINWhat was that about the bird?

LENORAOh, it was just a blackbird. Or a crow …

KEVIN Yes, but you said it was funny - what was funny?

LENORAOh, right. See, I was trying to get a picture. It was sitting on the wire - that wire, the telephone wire. And it was sitting still. They don’t sit still for long, birds. So it was sitting still, so I got my camera out and took a picture, I used the zoom so I could see it better. It looked right at me.

KEVINThe bird?

LENORAIt looked right at me, like it knew I was taking its picture.

KEVIN GIVES HER A SCEPTICAL LOOK

LENORANo, but listen - it looked right at the camera. And it winked.

KEVINDon’t be daft!

LENORAIt did. It really did!

KEVINYou’re away wi the fairies if you think a bird even knows what a camera is, far less poses for a pic-ture and winks at you! Anyway, how can a bird wink?

LENORA 4

Say what you like, it did wink. I saw it. I’m going to upload the picture onto the computer , then you can see it yourself.

KEVIN MAKES A DISMISSIVE SOUND AND PICKS UP HIS FLUTE AGAINLENORA LEAVES THE ROOM

SCENE 2. LATER. EVENING LENORA AND KEVIN ARE HAVING SUPPER AT THE KITCHEN TABLE

KEVINWell, did your winking blackbird photo come out alright?

LENORA You can make a joke if you like, but the proof of the pudding’s in the eating

KEVINAch well, maybe it was winking. Maybe it wasn’t

LENORAIt’ll maybe come back tomorrow. I’ll see then. I’ll put something out for it, and maybe it’ll come back. I’ll just put this plate out. I don’t know what they eat, blackbirds. Or crows. But worms are meat so maybe they’ll take a bit of leftover sausage. And the crusts.

LENORA TAKES A SAUCER AND PUTS SOME BITS OF FOOD ON IT. SHE TAKES IT OUT OF THE BACK DOOR.

SCENE 3. NEXT DAYKEVIN IS PLAYING THE FLUTE

LENORAI don’t know, Kevin, they all start to sound the same after a while

KEVINThey all are sort of the same. It’s because I’m just learning. Halfway through I forget what tune I’m on and I end up doing a different one to the one I started.

LENORAWhy don’t you look at the music then?

KEVIN 5

Och, it’s too many things to do at once. The mouth, the fingers, the remembering, the reading. If I cut out the reading then that’s one thing less to have to do. It’s just the remembering then

LENORAI know, it’s like that time I was trying to learn German. I could remember the words but then I couldn’t remember the order. And reading just made it worse. They were all joined together. Music must be like Chinese.

KEVINIt is a language …

LENORAAnd all the symbols are different …. Go on, do it again. It sounded fine.

SHE LOOKS OUT OF THE WINDOW

LENORAOh look! Its the bird! The winky bird!!! It’s at the plate … wait till I get my camera

LENORA RUSHES OFF TO GET THE CAMERA. KEVIN PICKS UP THE FLUTE AND STARTS TO PLAY. HE WALKS OVER TO THE WINDOW, STILL PLAYING

LENORA COMES BACK WITH THE CAMERA

LENORASShh!! Keep quiet!

SHE OPENS THE DOOR SLIGHTLY AND POINTS IT AT THE BIRD. KEVIN STARTS TO PLAY VERY SOFTLY. LENORA TAKES SEVERAL PHOTOS

LENORA (VERY QUIETLY)I’ll put it on video

SHE VIDEOS THE BIRD FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE BIRD FLIES AWAY

LENORAThat was you! You scared it away with your stupid flute

KEVINIt was dancing! Did you not see that? It liked it! It liked the music and it was dancing

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LENORAOh, I was daft yesterday for saying it was winking. Now it’s dancing? You’re the daftie! Who’s ever heard of a blackbird dancing? Or a crow.

KEVINIt was so dancing. Play the video. Put it on the computer then, you’ll see it better. It was definitely dancing.

LENORA We’ll see …

LENORA LEAVES WITH THE CAMERA

SCENE 4. THE NEXT DAY, MORNING LENORA IS LOOKING OUT OF THE WINDW

LENORADid you see him?

KEVINWho?

LENORAWinky.

KEVINWho’s Winky? What are you on about? I haven’t seen anybody. Where’s my flute? Did you put it away?

LENORAWinky. The blackbird. Or crow. Did you see him out there this morning?

KEVINI didn’t look. I can’t find my flute. I left it here on the table last night. In a bag. A black bag. I just left it right here, and now it’s gone

LENORAIf you left it there it would still be there. You must’ve put it somewhere else. Did you put it away?

KEVIN 7

I didn’t put it away. You must’ve put it away.

LENORAWell I didn’t. I never touch your stuff, you know that.

KEVIN Well there’s a first time for everything.For heaven’s sake! It’s not as if it could’ve sprouted wings and flown away … there’s nowhere else to look … I left it right here ..

HE IS GETTING QUITE AGITATED, LIFTING PAPERS AND THINGS, LOOKING FOR HIS FLUTE

LENORAWas that the door?

KEVIN(CROSS)I didn’t hear anything

LENORAIt was. There’s somebody at the door

KEVINWell bloody answer it then!

LENORA GOES TO THE BACK DOOR AND OPENS IT. SHE COMES BACK IN

LENORAThere’s nobody there

KEVINI said there was nobody there, didn’t I?

LENORAYou said go an answer it!

KEVINOnly because you said there was somebody there!

LENORA 8

Is that your flute there?

SHE IS LOOKING AT THE KITCHEN TABLE. THE FLUTE IS NOW THERE, LYING ON A BLACK VELVET BAG.

KEVINIt wasn’t there a minute ago! I looked!

LENORAYou’re going blind! It’s right there in front of you!

KEVIN But I looked there already. It wasn’t there

LENORAYou probably put something on top of it. I’m going out to look for Winky.

KEVINWinky. That’s the stupidest name for a blackbird I’ve ever heard.

LENORAAnyway, it’s maybe not a blackbird at all. It’s maybe a crow

KEVINBlackbird, crow, whatever. It’s still a stupid name.

LENORAWhat would you call it then?

KEVINI wouldn’t call it anything. It’s not a pet.

LENORAIts still a living creature

KEVINI never said it wasn’t a living creature. That doesn’t mean it has to have a name.

LENORAI’m giving it a name. Winky.

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KEVINFor the love of God! Winky! If you have to give it a name give it a decent name. Winky! That’s plain stupid! It’s not a budgie!

LENORAIf my name’s not good enough for it, you give it a name them. Kenny. Kenny the Crow.

KEVINOr Basil the Blackbird. Maybe it’s a girl.

LENORAKaren

KEVINBarbra

LENORAIt’s not a girl anyway

KEVINHow do you know? You don’t even know what kind of bird it is.

LENORAI know it’s black and it’s a bird. So it’s a blackbird. QED.

KEVINQED? How old are you? Twelve? Why don’t you look it up?

LENORA Why don’t you?

KEVIN Because. I. Don’t. Care. Full stop.

LENORAWho’s twelve now?

KEVIN Away and look for your wee pal and leave me in peace.

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HE PICKS UP HIS FLUTE AND STARTS TO PLAY. HE IS TRYING TO PLAY BLACKBIRD BY THE BEATLES, BUT NOT MAKING A VERY GOOD JOB OF IT.

LENORA GOES OUT.

SCENE 5. LATER

THERE IS A TAPPING AT THE WINDOW. KEVIN IS STILL PLAYING AND DOESN’T HEAR IT. HE CONTINUES TO PLAY BLACKBIRD VERY BADLY.

HE SPEAKS TO ALEXA

KEVINAlexa. Play Blackbird by the Beatles

ALEXAPlaying Blackbird by the Beatles

ALEXA PLAYS BLACKBIRDKEVIN CLOSES HIS EYES AND LISTENS.WE SEE THE SILHOUETTE OF A RAVEN AT THE WINDOWKEVIN STARTLESTHE BIRD VANISHES

ALEXA (PLAYING)Blackbird singing in the dead of night … blackbird singing in the dead of night … LINES REPEAT LIKE A STUCK RECORD.

KEVIN Alexa! Stop.

MUSIC STOPSLIGHTS DIM

LENORA COMES IN. SHE IS A BIT DISHEVELLED. THERE ARE BITS OF TWIGS STICKING OUT OF HER HAIR AND ON HER SWEATER. SHE PICKS THEM OFF CAREFULLY, PUTTING THEM TOGETHER IN A NEAT PILE.

LENORAWhy’s it so dark in here?

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KEVINIt’s the dead of night. I’m just sitting here. “Self-forgetful, but in agony all the time”

LENORA SWITCHES A LIGHT ON

LENORAAgony? How so?

KEVINHands hurt …

KEVIN WRINGS HIS SORE HANDS

LENORAHow long have you been sitting in the dark?

KEVINI don’t know. I told you, self-forgetful. My fingers are sleeping. “The shut-eyed blank” …crept up through me. Where have you been?

LENORAOutside.

KEVIN Did you find Winky?

LENORAWinky?

KEVINYour blackbird. Crow.

LENORAHardly MY blackbird. Crow.

KEVINWhatever. Did you find it?

LENORASHE HESITATES, THENNo. 12

SCENE 6. NEXT MORNINGLENORA HAS CHANGED HER CLOTHES FROM HE PREVIOUS SCENES. SHE IS NOW DRESSED COMPLETELY IN BLACK.

LENORAThat was weird last night, coming in and you sitting there in the dark

KEVINWeird? How? I think I must’ve just nodded off. I thought I saw the bird at the window.

LENORAWinky?

KEVINDo you have to to keep calling it Winky. It makes it sound so daft. Like a toy bird or something. It’s a fucking crow for God’s sake. They’re predators. Scavengers. “Twa Corbies” and all that.

LENORAKevin! It’s a blackbird. Saying crow makes it sound like something …. I don’t know, something ….else

KEVINWell. They poked that guy’s eyes out

LENORAWhat are you on about?

KEVINIn the poem. They poked some guy’s eyes out. After he died. And baby lambs. They poke their eyes out as well.

LENORAI don’t know what you’re on about. I don’t know any poem about anybody getting his eyes poked out.

KEVINI’m just saying … you wouldn’t be calling it Winky after it poked your eyes out.

LENORA Unless it only poked one eye out! SHE LAUGHS 13

KEVIN(SARCASTICALLY) Haha. But not funny.

LENORANo. Well.

KEVINWhere did you go yesterday anyway. You were away for ages.

LENORAI don’t know. Just a walk. Nowhere in particular.

KEVINDid you see it then? W.. your bird?

LENORANo. And it’s not my bird. It’s a bird. Do you want something to eat? I’m making drop scones.

KEVINGo on then.

LENORA MAKES THE DROP SCONES AND TAKES A PLATE OVER TO KEVIN. SHE GOES BACK TO THE WORKTOP AND PUTS ONE ON A PLATE FOR HERSELF. SHE LOOKS ROUND TO SEE IF KEVIN IS WATCHING HER. HE IS NOT. SHE TAKES A SMALL PLASTIC CONTAINER FROM HER POCKET, AND OPENS IT. THERE IS A WORM INSIDE. SHE PUTS IT ON HER SCONE, AND EATS IT. KEVIN DOESN’T SEE ANY OF THIS.

LENORA BUSTLES AROUND THE ROOM, TIDYING THE DISHES AND WASHING UP. KEVIN IS PLAYING AROUND WITH HIS FLUTE, CLEANING IT, LOOKING AT BITS OF MUSIC ETC.LENORA PUTS A SCONE ON A PLATE AND HEADS FOR THE BACK DOOR

KEVINWee scone for your pal?

LENORAI’ll just see if he’s still out there.

LENORA GOES OUT

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THE REST OF THE DAY PASSES. KEVIN TIDIES UP, LOOKS AT THE CLOCK, GENERALLY BUSIES HIMSELF. THEN HE SITS DOWN TO READ A BOOK, AND GRADUALLY DOZES OFF IN FRONT OF THE TV. THE DAY FADES INTO EVENING HE WAKES WITH A START TO HEAR SOMEONE TAPPING AT THE DOOR. KEVIN GETS UP AND GOES TO THE DOOR. THERE IS NO-ONE THERE. HE LOOKS OUT, THEN COMES BACK INTO THE ROOM, SHAKING HIS HEAD.HE LOOKS AT THE CLOCK. HE SITS DOWN AGAIN, THEN GETS UP AND MAKES A CUP OF TEA AND A SANDWICH. HE SITS DOWN WITH THE TEA AND EATS THE SANDWICH. HE IS STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT LENORA, WHO HAS STILL NOT RETURNED.HE HEARS A NOISE OUTSIDE AND GETS UP TO GO TO THE DOOR AGAIN, BUT ON LOOKING AND FINDING NO-ONE THERE, HE RETURNS TO HIS CHAIR. HE FINISHES HIS TEA AND CLOSES HIS EYES. WE SEE A RAVEN SILHOUETTED AGAINST THE WINDOW.THERE IS A FLUTTER OF WINGS. THE RAVEN CRIES OUT

KEVIN (MUTTERING TO HIMSELF)Well that’s one question answered. It’s not a fucking blackbird.

KEVIN DOZES OFF

THERE IS A TAPPING AT THE DOOR. THIS TIME, KEVIN DOESN’T HEAR IT. THE DOOR OPENS QUIETLY.THE LIGHTS DIM AS A DARK SHADOW CROSSES THE ROOMDARKNESS WE HEAR A FLUTTER OF WINGSTHE DOOR HAS BEEN LEFT OPEN AND WE HEAR WIND BLOWING THE DOOR TO AND FRO

NEXT MORNINGLIGHT SEEPS INTO THE ROOM. LENORA HAS NOT RETURNEDKEVIN IS STILL IN HIS CHAIR, HIS EYES ARE CLOSED.THERE IS CONGEALED BLOOD ON HIS FACE WHICH HAS DRIPPED DOWN FROM BOTH OF HIS EYES, WHICH HAVE BEEN PECKED OUT

END

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